When I was preparing
for my hike of the CDT in 2001, I got frustrated by the lack of good,
detailed, inexpensive, CDT-specific maps. So, I created my own. Now, I make them available for anyone to print their own copies.

General Information
The maps are digital images, intended to be viewed on a computer
screen, or printed on 8.5x11 sheets of paper. All it takes to create a
complete hard-copy set is:

Access
to a computer

A
standard color ink-jet or color laser printer

~147-294
sheets of paper (depends if you print double-sided, and if
you print all the maps)

A
couple ink cartridges (if you use an ink-jet)

The maps are based on the USGS
7.5 minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic
quads (spliced together, so the seams of the USGS maps aren't an
issue). The individual maps are set-up to be printed at 7in x 10in on
an 8.5in x 11in sheet
of paper, which puts the prints at a scale of about 1:60,000, or 1mile
per inch. All of the information from the 1:24,000 original maps is
there, it's just shrunk into small fonts and tiny lines. Some people
have printed
the maps on 11in x 17in sheets of paper. This will make some of the
fine
detail a bit easier to read. Though, I rather like the 8.5in x 11in
size -
folded in fourths, they fit perfectly in a pocket (and they're a bit
lighter for all you lightweight folks).

I've drawn the trail with a red
line & a bunch of alternate routes in purple. I've added a
bunch of notes to the maps based on feedback I've received
from dozens of hikers through the years. I hope the maps will
get better and better with each passing year. If you have any comments
or notes you think should be added to the maps, let me know. It's easy
for me to edit the master copies.

Getting your own copy
The maps are available to download. In an effort to be kind to my
server bandwidth, I don't have the download links published, but just
e-mail me: jonathan@phlumf.com and I'll send you the links. The download is about 2GB.

If
you don't have a good internet connection/bandwidth, I can send
you a DVD-ROM. I've been sending physical discs for years, so it's
really no big deal for me to send one - just send me your mailing
address.

The maps are free of
charge. I know a lot of CDT hikers are under serious budget constraints, and I get a lot of intangable rewards for doing this. But if you like, I do appreciate anything you can send back to me to cover
my expenses & encourage me to continue to do this. This hasn't been the most
profitable activity in my life, but I have had some fun doing it. If you want to send me paypal, you can use paypal.com to send
something to: jonathan@phlumf.com. Or just e-mail me for my mailing address.

About the Updates
I
generally update the entire set of maps over the winter, and try to be
done by the end of February. If you want the current year’s maps, just
ask for it. If you want to be notified when the next update is available, send me an e-mail and I'll add you to the list.

I
do not keep a log of exactly what’s changed on each map each year.
Sorry about this, it’d just be too much
work to deal with. I update the maps in a bit of a haphazard fashion
based on numerous (sometimes conflicting) inputs, so it’s just too much
to track. If you have
a set of maps from 1 year prior, you’ll probably be OK.
Even a couple years back, and you’ll probably be OK, but you might
miss-out on some new routes and details.

About the 2016 updateThere are a bunch of minor updates in 2016
(mostly some maps in New Mexico, and in a few other places). The main
update this year is that the maps are now downloadable, in .pdf format,
and available on the PDF Maps mobile app. There's more about that
below.

The Map Files

The map files are in .pdf format for easy
printing. You can also download the maps to your mobile device with the
PDF Maps app - more about that below.

Each
.pdf file contains from 4-15 maps, completing a logical section of the
trail. There are a total of 38 sections plus an overview, so 39 .pdf files..

Nearly all of the maps are
based on the USGS 1:24,000 or 7.5 minute map data. A few maps in New
Mexico are based on 1:100,000 USGS data. Those maps are labeled as
such, and it should be obvious when you look at them.

When printed on 8.5in x 11in paper, the maps have
a
scale of about 1mile/inch, or roughly 1:60,000 (all the 1:24,000 data
will still be there, it'll just be shrunk into fine print). A lot of
people prefer to print on 11in x 17in paper, which makes it easier to
read some of the small details.

The
maps are numbered north to south generally. Some of the maps have
"letters" as well: (i.e. WY28a). These are instances where alternate
routes
required extra maps. Some of these maps provide coverage of small "missing areas"
between some maps, or they are "zoomed-in" detail sections of some of
the 1:100,000-base maps. It should be easy to figure out what's what
when you're out on the trail.

The Route

The red lines show what I can
best describe as "the main route". Usually it's the designated CDT
route, and usually it's the route I prefer. In a few cases, it's
neither of those things. Away, it's a continuous route. If you
find a map with two red lines… just hike either one (do not
hike in a circle... unless you want to hike in a circle).

The purple lines show
alternate routes. Usually, I've included notes to
describe or criticize the alternate routes.

There are a some maps with
grey lines. These are roads or trails that were not clearly visible on
the USGS maps, but I wanted to show them for reference. I have
only done this in very selected instances. There are plenty of roads
& trails crossing the CDT not marked on the maps. These are
often described in the notes.

Any dashed line indicates
that there is no tread on the ground in that section (so, it's
cross-country). Keep in mind that many parts of the CDT
have occasional cairns or signposts or very faint tread or
nothing at all… I apologize if they're not consistently marked on the
maps. If you hike the trail, hopefully you'll understand why it's very
difficult to decide if a particular route is technically cross-country
or not.

The mileages on the maps show
the estimated distance between any two "stars". I added the mileages to
make it easier to plan your day. I measured the mileages by "rolling"
the distances on a printed set of maps with an electronic distance
measuring tool (and in some places, just eye-balling it). It's
kind of difficult to get an accurate measure when there are lots of
twists and turns in the trail... especially at a scale of ~1:60,000!
So, the mileages might be a little "off"... usually short if anything
(but consistently short I hope). I can almost guarantee that my
mileages won't exactly match-up with mileages in the guidebooks or
other maps. But in the end, they should help you out. There are some
places without mileages marked - it's just a lot of work to keep all
these updated... You get to have fun "eyeballing it" in those places!

The Notes

The numbered notes should be
self-explanatory. The numbers are generally "very near" to
whatever I'm referring.

In most places, I've
indicated for which hiking direction the notes are intended. If a note
doesn't specify, assume it's intended to make sense primarily for
southbound hikers (because I hiked the trail N->S, and some of
the notes are from my original hike)... or more often, either direction.

I've made some notes
regarding road numbers and private property in many places, but not
"everywhere".

The map labels in the upper
left hand corner of each map are there to help you keep the maps
organized in case you print a set. All the labels are in the
NW corner of the map. All writing on the maps is such that geographic
north is "straight up".

The missing areas, or "white
spaces" on the edges of many maps are there to save ink in the
event that you want to print a set. I've tried not to erase anything vital.

The maps have
been pretty extensively overhauled year after year after year for the past 15 years. Special thanks to everyone who has
given me feedback - there are too many of you to list. The maps work because of YOU!

PDF Maps app - using the maps with your mobile device.

The maps are now available for download with the
PDF Maps app. just search for "pdf maps" on the iTunes App store, or
Google Play (sorry no Windows Phone support yet).

The app is free, and the maps are free.

After
installing and launching the app, search for the maps in the store
included with the app. Search for CDT or my name: Jonathan Ley. There
should be a total of 38 map bundles - one bundle for each
section of the trail. The overview .pdf file isn't included, since you can just use google maps, etc for that.

After
you install each section/bundle, I recommend changing the options for
that folder to a "Collection". This will give you a neat visual
way to switch between adjacent maps.

The Compass Rose can be used to determine your location using a paper map plus a stand-alone GPS unit.

Click
here for more information about using the Compass Rose
with the maps.

Printing the maps

Color
laser printers have gotten a lot better in the past couple years, and
in my opinion are now the best choice for printing the maps. These printers might
cost more up-front,
but the color toner lasts for thousands of prints (saving you money in
the
long run). Color laser prints are also much more durable wrt/ wetness,
and you can probably get-away with slightly cheaper paper.
The laser printer ink might flake-off at folds in the paper,
but the maps should hold up well enough for the amount of time you need
them. If you're going through 2/day, they don't need to last long.

Most
people use ink-jet printers to print the maps. If you do this, I recommend using good
ink-jet paper. There are a variety of brands, but the point is - don't
skimp. The advantage of using good paper is that the fine
detailed writing in the maps will be clear. With normal paper, the ink
will "bleed" just a little, which blurs details… no matter how good
your printer is. There is a LOT of fine detail on these maps. You can
find high resolution paper at any office supply or computer store.

High resolution paper also
holds up reasonably well when it gets wet. Inkjet ink will bleed
profusely on regular paper with the slightest moisture. This is a very
important consideration out on the trail.

Waterproof paper is now
available, but it is expensive and usually not biodegradable. On a typical hike you'll go through
about 2 maps a day. I wouldn't bother with the waterproof paper unless
you intend to keep the maps for a long time, use them again, or pass
them along to future hikers.

The where's and how's of
printing will depend on your printer and printer set-up & the
software you use to print. In order to see the detail on the images,
you will need a printer that prints at least 300dpi. Nearly every
ink-jet printer sold in the last 6 years will print at this
resolution. Color laser printers sold in the last 2-3 years should be
ok too. If you have an old or extremely low-end ink-jet that cannot
print at 300dpi, the printouts will not be clear.

Tip: If you want to print double-sided & don't
have a duplexer, try printing odd-numbered maps
first, then run the paper through again & print the even maps.
You'll get a few 1-sided maps at the end of some sections, but it'll
save a lot of paper.

I
don't recommend using black-and-white laser printers. There is a lot of
information on the maps that can only be seen in color.

Some
people have taken the maps to their local copy-shop to have them
printed. This can work fine, but is usually quite costly. The results
you'll get won't be any better than home-printing. If you're just not
comfortable with computers and printing, etc... Printing the maps is a
great way to learn!... or ask a friend, neighbor or family member.
Surely someone you know would be willing to help!

Another
option: Some former hikers are now selling prints of the maps. These
are a great option for a lot of people. Just google "prints of CDT maps
from Jonathan Ley", and you should get some results.